Thanos (2003 series) #6

An interdimensional parasite called Hunger manipulated Galactus to afford it entry into Universe-616, which would then allow it to consume the whole of that reality. This involved Big G gathering together again the 6 Infinity Gems. Thanos, with new-found good intentions, came to the aid of the Rigellians against Galactus and discovered Hunger's intentions. He tried and failed to persuade G that he was being tricked. But when H partially emerged in this reality G allied with T to try to stop *him*.

But now Hunger has Galactus and Thanos trapped in the ruins of G's spaceship and prepares to kill them. But T has plans within plans. He summons his minion Pip the Troll to teleport in to land on G's shoulder and take him to safety. And H suddenly finds that the power still running in G's ship has shut down. T enlightens him that while he was using the ship's computer system to locate G inside it (at the beginning of last issue) he also set a timer to cut the power now. He also reveals that his main reason for being here was to retrieve Adam Warlock's Soul Gem from the Focusing Crux that holds the Infinity Gems, which he has now done. And also that he used the Rigellians planetary defence system to teleport the old devastated Rigel-3 extremely close to the equally-devastated Rigel-18 they are standing on. And on cue Pip pops in and 'ports T away.

We see Rigel-3 about to collide with Rigel-18 immediately above H and G's spacecraft. Unfortunately for him G is trapped in the area too. The planets crash together and the resulting explosion disperses the other 5 Gems across the universe.

In his fleeing Sanctuary spacecraft T's robots dress him in a fresh version of his costume. He gives the Soul Gem to Pip and tells him to return it to Adam Warlock. Then P is free to go on his way. T himself opens a portal to take him to where G reclines on a piece of what was R-18, reduced in strength and size but still alive. T says he'd estimated a 60% chance of his survival which he claims was a reasonable risk given that G had caused the crisis and the fate of the universe was at stake. G accepts that. T comments that there are several uninhabited planets nearby that G can use to rebuild his strength, but he warns him that the Rigellian planets are under *his* protection. G says a replacement spaceship is on the way to pick him up.

But before they part T suggests G learn from this event. He is an intrinsic element of this universe with few equals. But T effectively quotes Spider-Man's mantra that with great power comes great responsibility. If G continues to consume populated worlds eventually the inhabitants of the universe will unite to destroy him. G points out that T once killed half the universe to woo Death. T's response that they all recovered is weak. He says that G's desire to end his hunger was good but he didn't consider all the consequences. G asks if he should instead kill himself. T says no but doesn't supply an alternative. He merely adds that when the forces rise to kill him Thanos will stand with them. T then leaves G to ponder his future. T's thoughts tell us that he can't be sure that H is completely destroyed, but that only a small part if it made it into this universe anyway and the rest is now still trapped outside it. We see a tiny bit of Hunger flying free.

Back on Sanctuary T is graced by a visit from Warlock with the gem restored to his brow. W thanks him and T says the Rigellians now consider his debt discharged (incurred when a Thanosi clone devastated Rigel-3 in Thor Annual 2000). Adam says he's returning to his love Gamora to continue watching over Atleza (see the Infinity Abyss mini-series). He asks if Pip can teleport him there but T says the Troll is off boozing somewhere. T says he'll continue his path of making amends for his past misdeeds, next stop Titan. The pair part as friends and T wonders if he should have asked him to stay. But where Thanos goes he goes alone.

Then P teleports in drunk and asks him to come with him to a bar because its patrons won't believe he just saved the universe. Then he passes out and T tells his robots to put him in the garbage disposal. After all there's a limit to goodness.